Some of the forts in Konkan have been destroyed over time today, but the remains of these forts are present in the pages of history. The Akeri fort is an example of this. The Akeri fort in Sawantwadi taluka remains today in history. The Akeri fort is at a distance of 7 km from Sawantwadi town and 15 km from Kudal. The people of the village do not know anything about this fort but they very much aware of the Rameshwar temple. We should inquire locals about the Rameshwar temple instead of inquiring about Akeri fort. The fort of Akeri, which once stood on the right side of the temple, is now flattened. We got there after an old man from the village told us there was something like a fort. At some distance on the right side of the temple, you can see the ruined ramparts of this fort which are about 5 feet high and 100 to 150 feet long and 2 bastions in this rampart. ... The inside portion of the ramparts has been turned into a mound and the wall and bastions can be seen from the outside. The moat on the outside of the ramparts is filled with soil. The year 1756 and some letters are engraved on the Tulshi Vrindavana in front of the temple. There is a well in the temple premises. There are a 100 feet high stone hill in front of the fort and a saffron flag is hoisted on this hill but it is not possible to reach this hill due to the overgrown trees. Although there are no other remnants of the fort left, your visit here is not wasted at all considering the carved stone pillars and other wooden artifacts in the Rameshwar temple. Although it is not known when and by whom the fort was built, it was under the control of Sawantwadi in the 18th century. In 1787, Karveer's army defeated Sawant at Nandos and marched towards Sawantwadi. When this army met the army of Sawant at Akeri, the army of Karveer had to retreat. In 1788, the Portuguese army that came to the aid of Sawant was stationed at Akeri. According to a letter written to Goa by the army's field marshal, there was a shortage of food and the Sawant was not providing timely assistance to the Portuguese army. He also reports that Sawant’s army was stationed at Akeri. In a dispute over the inheritance of the Sawant family in 1806, Fond Sawant fled to Akeris and sought the help of Karveerkars and Peshwas. At this time, Ranoji Nimbalkar, the fort keeper of Rangna and Chitkopant, the Peshwa's official at Salshi, came together at Akeri. Ranoji Nimbalkar arrested Chitkopant and imprisoned him in the Sindhudurg fort. It may be possible that Akeri fort came under the control of Karveerkar during this period, but later it appears to be under the control of Sawant.
© Suresh Nimbalkar